Railway-crossing.



N5. 899,693. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908. L. ALEXANDER 65 L. emu.-

RAILWAY' LROSSINGa APPLICATION FILED FEB.29,1908.

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Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed February 29, 1998 Serial No. 418,614.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

have right angular extensions as ind' :ated

Be it known that we, Lnwrs ALEXANDER as at 3; or in fact the entire plate, it of andv SAMUEL l1. GANO, citizens of the United States, and residents of Ulinton,in the county of Dewitt and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossings, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to railways, and more especially to the crossings thereof; and the main object of the same is to produce a device of this kind applicable to cases in which the tracks cross each other at any angle, while the invention also contemplates ,the production of a weather proof construction and one in which the rails of the track in'use are automatically made continuous so to lessen jar and noise and to avoid deraihnent.

T o these-ends the invention consists primarily in a base plate provided witha peculiararrangenient of slots, and rail-carrying tumblers journal'ed in tour independent bearings adapted to be separately bolted to said plate according to the angle of the crossing; and it consists secondarily in the peculiar construction of theturnbl'ers and theirsupports, and in the means for turning the1nall as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings formin a part of this specification and in Which-- i ure 1 is a general plan view of this crossing with certain parts at the different corners thereof removed or in section to illustrate the construction of the parts beneath. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one. bearing with its tumbler withdrawn and lace. Fi 3 is a bottorn p an thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the angular fish plates.

In the drawings the arts are broadly designated by reterenee letters as follows: P designates the base plate, E the bean ings, T the tumblers, O the operating mechanism therefor, and it the rails. The ties for supporting the latter and the base plate, and specific construction of the operating mechanisin'iurther than as necessary to an understanding of this invention, are not illustrated.

The base plate P is by reference a single rectangular sheet of meta either solid or in skeleton form, supported on ties or otherwise &S IIMLTZ .l)6 found desirable, and provided through its body at proper points with a series of transverse slots 1 and asericaof oblique slots 2, either or both of which m'iiy forming no part of the invention.

skeleton form, can be provided near its l'our corners with several series of slots so located and arranged as to'permit the carrying out of the idea set. forth below. While this plate is shown as flat (as that portion of it which forms part of the crossing will be), it is not inconsistent with or material to this invention that at other points on its surhu'e, as near its edges, it could he provided with means for bolting or clamping it to the eight rails which constitute the crossing or to the ties.

The bearings B are duplicates of (ltll other, and a description of one will sullice for all. llarh comprises a preferably rec tangular body ll) pierced near its corners with. holes H, and tour bolts 12 which take through the slots in the base plate and whose nuts preferably stand at their upper ends so that they can he readilyreached, and if desired may he held by nut locks These bodies are shown as superimposed upon the base plate, as they will be if the rails lie above its upper surface as in our preferred c nstruction. By the use of transverse sets ofslots 1 and oblique sets of, slots 2 arranged in alternating series around the base plate, it is-obvious that the bearings can be connected therewith at various oints, nearer to or further from each other in pairs to accommodate narrow gage tracks or standard gage tracks, and in right-angular or oblique angular position with respect to each other to accommodate riglitengular crossings or those of acute or obtuse angles. The body otthe bearing is preferably formed with a raised, annular boss 14 surrounding I a central upright hole 15 through the hearing and hating its upper end conical sothat it slopes outward ar'd will prevent water from passiu'ti, througlh the hole; and ooening l6 r'ltr eferably parallel with one side or go of the body g through it and intersects one edge 01" am ltole terireceptiori of the rack bar which forms ing mechanism. lit the ody rests l at on the base late, this opening is preferably made in t e form of a groove in its lower face as seen in art of the o erat- The tumbler for each bearing has an upright cylindrical body 200i a'si ze to fit c osely'but IfQtatably in the hole -15, a gear OI' EJiDlOQ 21 oppos te-said opening 16' and ierein.

formed. by cutting teeth in said body, and an enlarged head 22 formed with its under lace slightly dished to lit the conical upper end of the boss It so. as to shed water. Said head ma also be provided with an annular llange 25} to receive a trey to prevent its dislodgemmrt, if desired. Superimposed upon and preferably cast with said head is a short rail section 25 which may be tempered if desired, this section being ot a length to bridge thebreak in each ol the rails forming parts of the tracks which cross each-other.

'lhc rails it are of the usual coustrtwtion, suitably supported on. ties not shown, and also connected with and supported by the tate if desired. though not so illustrated l Their adjacent ends 30 pret'erably lie ltat on the bodies Idol the hearings and abut against the boss which by preference is a tritte larger in diameter than the head of its tumbler, and hence when the rails expand they may press against the boss but will not interfere with the rotation of the tumbler amt its head. Adjacent. ails are by )refcrence connected on. tlieir outer sides by angular tish plates 31 whose angles are 'of such shape that, when in place they engage the ltanges 23 and term keys, and each checks the rotation of its adjacent; tumbler "when it has been turned so that the short rail section 25,thereon stands inline with either pair of adjacent rail sections 30. Said short section is of course made of sutlieient length to allow clearance for the flange of the wheel when a train runs over the crossing.

'lhe'operating mechanism which forms a part oi this invention comprises two parallel rods -10 extending through the openings to in the l'itarrings amt having teeth 4.1 at proper poin s to engage'the pinions on the tumblers so that all ol" the latter will be turned simuttaneotisly when the rods are moved in the proper direction. in Fig. l we have shown these rods as engaging the inner sides of two' pairs ot' tumblers, and hence as connected by a link 42 so that they shall move oppositely and simultar-ieously. But it is obvious that it both rods lead to the right of all the tumblers the rods would have 'to move in unison to turn all the tumblers in unison. This would be satisl'actory where the crossing is a right angular one and all tumblers must be turned through a quarter circle, but in the illustration where the crossing is an oblique one the tumblers are by prelerenmturned through an are bounded by the smallest angle at each point ot crossing and the angular lislr-ptales are located in--the are bounded by the largest angle. As herein illustrated, the link 42 has an arm -13 connectedas at it with the rod that governs derailing at an interlocking plant. Movement ol' the arurwill swing the linlt, and the latter will move the rods simultaneously and turn all the ttn'ublers through I l l l l l l l ,E ffsT mamas cow 853,693

considered necessal to illustrate how the;

opposite ends of the rods could be similarly? operated, and it isquite within the province of our invention that another pair of rods and operating meehatiisms could be arranged I on the other track with similar results.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a railway crossing, the combination with a substantiallyrectangular base plate having tour series olslots in its body respec 'tivel v near its corners; 'd l'fa series otbearings mounted on theplate, bolts adjustahly conneetingthem with thelslots, tumblers journated in said bearings and carrying short rail sections, means for turning the tumblers sinmltaneously, and the rails.

l. in a railway crossing, the combination with a baseplate provided with slots in its body, said slots having right-angular extensions; of a series of bearings mounted on the plate, bolts adjustabty connecting them with the slots, tumblers journaled in said bearings 'and carrying short rail sections, means for turning the tumblers simultaneously, and the rails. I

3. In a railway crossing, the combination with a substantially rectangular base plate having l'our series ot' slots in its body respectively near its corners, those near diametricalt v opposite corners being transverse. and the others oblique; ot a series of bearings mounted on the plate, bolts adjustabty connecting them with the slots, ttunblers journated in said hearings and carrying short rail sections, means for turning the tumblers. and the rails.

.4. in a railwaycrossing, the combination with a substantially rectangular base plate having four series of slots in its body respectively near its'eorners, those near diamet ric ally o )posite corners being transverse and the others oblique, said slots having angular extensions; of a series of bearings mounted on the plate, bolts adjnstably connecting them with the. slots, tumblers journaled in said bearings and carrying short rail seetions, means t'or turning the tumblers, and the-rails.

5. vln a railway crossing, the combination with a series ot bearings, a tubular boss rising from each and having a conical upper end, a tumbler journaled in each boss and having a head dished on its under t'ace andresting on said upper end of the boss, and a short.- rail sect ion carried by said head; of the rails,

means t'or holding them in place, and means j t'or turning the tumblers. V

(3. In a railway crossing, the eombination with a series ol bearings, a tubular boss rising from each, a tumbler journaled in each boss and lntving a head resting on the upper end of the boss, the latter being otlarger diameter than the head; of the rails whose ad jar-exit ends ahnt against said hoss. means i'or holding them in. plare, and means for turning the tumblers.

.7. in a railway crossing, the combination with a series ol hearings, alnhnlar l)(). i\ rising l'rom eaeh and having a ronieal upper end, a lnmhler jonrnaled in eaeli boss and having a head dished on its under l tl(" and resling on said upper end ol' the hoss, lhe lal lier hein ol larger diameler than the head .and a short rail sol-lion rarried l said head:

l lhe rails whose adjarenl, ends alm'li a jjainsl said lmss, means lo! holding them in plan. and means l' r lm'nin; the lnmlilers simullailnoilsla'.

lo a railnav rr ssin r, the romliinalion with a s ries of hearings, a lnlmlar lioss ising lroin earth. a. lninlilerjournalml in enrll, hoss and having a head I'eslillg on the upper end ol the hot-is, lhe latter lieing ol larger diamel r than the head, and a sllori v rail ser'lion rarrzed h said head: ol lhe rails i wlnise adjacent ends ahnt against said hoss, means for holding them in plare, angular hsh plales l. !lllL 'illl: -onlignons rails and passing around said hoss lhrongh the path nol. orvnpied l \f said rail serlion in ils m \r menl, and mean. l' r lnrnm rj ilW lnml lei a il. in a railo'a "lL $illJ. the roml inaiion with a series of lmnrings, a tnlmlar lioss rising from each, a tumbler jonrnaled in eauh boss and having a head resting on the upper end of the boss, and a short rail section earrierl by said head; of the rails, means for holding them in place, angular fish plates connecting contiguous rails through the path not occupied by said rail section in its movemerit, and. means for turning; the tumblers s'iln'illtsneolisly so that their rail sect ons,

rods, and means for moving the-link to re.

ciprorale said rods simnltaneousl l1. ln a railway crossing, the com in nation with a series of four upright hearings provided with two parallel openings interseeting the adjacent edges ol the holes through all ol' them, iraeks whose rails have lireaks over said holes, tumblers jonrnaled in the latter and rarr vins shorl rail serlions adapted to liridge the breaks and pinions on the tnmlilers hose leelh projert inlo said openings; ol' rods moving in llie laller and having leeih engaging lhe pinions, a link i'ollileeiillg lhe rods and means lor moving lhe linlvlo reripri ("ale said rods simullanoonsl and in upposlle direrlions.

I). A hearing, for railway rossin s romprisiogr a liod a. lnlmlar laiss rising [herel'rom, a llllllllllljlllll'llilll'll [herein a head on the lnmhler resting on the lioss, and a short rail serlion on the head; rolnliinrd "wilh [he adjar nt rails, and means l'or rotating the lnmliler l'rom a rem le poinl.

iii. A hearing l'or rail\\a rr sings romrising" a hody having a ll'lllls\'vl -'i opening, a lulnilar lioss rising lnerelrom and whose hole is inlerserled hy said opening, a lnmhler journaled lli rein, a head on lhrlii-mliler ll. llll;;f on lhe lnisis" and a sllorl rail serliion on the head; romhined with Ilnadjacent rails, and means lor rotating the lmnhler, the same eomprisin; a. pinion attaehwl. to it and projerting into said opening, a raek bar movable in the latter and engaging the pinion, and meansl'or moving said rack bar.

14. A hearin pl'or railway crossings (omprising a body, a tubular boss rising therefrom, a, tumbler joulnaled therein and having'an annu ar llange forming a hey-Way, a head on the lllllll-)l(l resting on the boss, and a shorl rail seelion on the head; eonihined with the adjarent rails, an angular lish-plate eonneeling Ihem and engaging said hey way, and means for rotating the tunihler.

in testimony whereof we sign our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this the 17th day of February, 1908.

LEV/TS ALEXAN DER; SAMUEL [1. GANG. Witnesses:

J. T. SPRAGUE, 'l. N. BYERLY. 

